Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-23
fAberieen Herald. |

GAberdeen Herald
Last Friday, evident by previous ar
rangements, fisherman from all the can
neres on the Harbor and river met at
Aberdeen, this being the headquarters
of that organization known as "Gray's
Harbor branch of the Columbia River
Fisherman's Protective Association"
During the whole afternoon and evening
secret meetings of the organization were
held, and groups of members we've seen
in and out of the way-places, engaged in
excited conversation. Soon it was wis
pered about town that the fish trap
matter was the cause of the assemblase,
and that the question under discussion
ut their meetings was to the ACCESSIBILITY
of destroying the traps which were built
and in process Of construction on the
Harbor and river. The evening SESSION
finally decided against traps. The men
from each cannery were formed into sep
arate COMMITTEES, and each committe as
signed some particular work. 1t vas
made the business Of SeabOr's and
Benn's fishermen to annihilate the two
traps owned by Fred Colbert and one be-
longing to Capt. Harris, near the mouth
of the Neutskah; Megler's men were to
destroy the traps owned by Messrs
Church, and Wilson Graham in the
middle channel; Solomon's men were to
look after Hunters and Graham 4 Gods
traps ut the mouth of the Humptulips;
and mixed, crowd agreed to fix Matt.
Fredenberg's plant below Benn's can
merry, and Campbell 4 G;lbreath's above
Cosmopois. At about ID NJ P; the
meeting adjourned, and the different
COMMITTEES proceeded by boat to the va
rious scenes of their labors. Harris, and
Colbert received some intimation as to
the intended attack on their traps, and
when at about A. NJ, the destroying
angels appeared there and commenced
their work, they were met by a yolley
from the Winchesters on land, which
made them scatter much more rapidly
than they came, not, however without
returning the fire. About "a shots were
fred by the guarding party, and by the
others, but, strange as it may seem, al.
though the distance was about 200 yards,
careful inquiry fails to discover that any
were wounded on either side After the
mob had dispersed, Messrs Harris and
Colbert and their friends, thinking the
danger over, started for Aberdeen that
they might see the crews who came in,
and ii possible indemnity the ones who
had attacked their traps No sooner had
they gone than the fishermen returned,
and two of those three traps were cut in
shreds. At the traps of VIM. Church
and Wilson Graham in the middle chan
mel, and those of Matt Fredenberg, and
Campbell and Gilbrcth near Cosmopolis,
no opposition was met with, and the
work of destruction was rapid and COM
plete. SOlOmen'S men, who were sent to
look after the Humptulips traps, through
some misunderstanding of the tides failed
to reach there until Just at daybreak.
When they loo ked down the threatening
muzzles of Winchesters and shot guns
backed by three or four determined men,
which met them upon their arrival, they
became satisfied that their business could
abide more congenial time, and retired
without doing any damage. These were
the only traps on the river or Harbor,
which were not nearly or totally destroy
ed The direct loss by trap-men, of gear
etc., is estimated as follows: